BIO:

Dr. Akins has been a Professor of Chemistry at The City College of New York since 1981, and director of the CUNY-Center for Analysis of Structure and Interfaces since 1988. He holds a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley, received in 1968. His mentor at Berkeley was Dr. C. Bradley Moore. From 1968 to 1969, Dr. Akins was a post doctoral associate at the Institute of Molecular Biophysics at The Florida State University (FSU), under the guidance of Dr. Michael Kasha, director. From 1969 to 1970 he served as a visiting assistant professor in the Chemistry Department at FSU. In 1970, Dr. Akins joined the faculty of the Chemistry Department of the University of South Florida, in Tampa, where he rose through the ranks from assistant to associate professor of physical chemistry. In 1977, Dr. Akins took the reins as visiting program director of the physical chemistry subsection of the Dynamics Program at the National Science Foundation. After directing the Dynamics Program for two years, in 1979 Dr. Akins assumed a position as a senior scientist at the Polaroid Corporation, until 1981. Dr. Akins has been published in numerous professional journals. He has extensively lectured at conferences and universities, both national and international. Dr. Akins is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Chemical Society and the Society for Applied Spectroscopy. His principal research focus involves quantum properties of molecular nanostructures and the exploitation of such properties for formulating new nanomaterials with uses in molecular photonic devices (MPDs) and/or chemical sensors. Small groupings of molecules (principally, in our case, so-called molecular aggregates) serve as the active agents. For MPDs the same types of photonic/optoelectronic applications as systems derived from epitaxially prepared inorganic semiconductor superlattices or conjugated organic polymers are anticipated. For chemical sensor applications, the aim is to form robust and highly manipulable new nanomaterials with unique spectral properties for analyses purposes.

Research conducted, more generally, involves: (1) syntheses of semiconductor and magnetic oxide nanoparticles and nanorods within mesoporous aluminosilicates and silicates; (2) fabrication of carbon nanotubes within various matrices; (3) spectroscopic and dynamical investigations of spontaneous and nonlinear laser Raman scattering by monomeric and aggregated molecules on metallic, semiconductor, vesicles surfaces and encapsulated within mesoporous materials; (4) excited state dynamics and determination of photophysical parameters for cyanine dyes and donor-acceptor systems that involve electron-transfer reactions; (5) Raman investigations of porphyrins in solution or adsorbed onto surfaces; (6) spectroscopic studies of biological tissues and herbs; and (7) quantum chemical calculations of porphyrins and dye molecules..

Heading:

Education

Description:

Education:

Howard University, B.S., with Honors.

University of California at Berkeley, Ph.D. (June 1968). Research with Professor C. Bradley Moore.

Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Institute of Molecular Biophysics (June 1968-Sept. 1969), The Florida State University. Research with Professor Michael Kasha.

Associate Professor, The University of South Florida, September 1975 - June 1977

Assistant Professor, The University of South Florida, September 1970 - September 1975

Visiting Assistant Professor, The Florida State University, June 1969 - September 1970

Heading:

Research Interests

Description:

Research Interests:

Quantum properties of molecular nanostructures and the exploitation of such properties for formulating new nanomaterials with uses in molecular photonic devices (MPDs) and/or chemical sensors. Small groupings of molecules (principally, in our case, so-called molecular aggregates) serve as the active agents. For MPDs the same types of photonic/optoelectronic applications as systems derived from epitaxially prepared inorganic semiconductor superlattices or conjugated organic polymers are anticipated. For chemical sensor applications, the aim is to form robust and highly manipulable new nanomaterials with unique spectral properties for analyses purposes.

Research conducted, more generally, involves: (1) syntheses of semiconductor and magnetic oxide nanoparticles and nanorods within mesoporous aluminosilicates and silicates; (2) fabrication of carbon nanotubes within various matrices; (3) spectroscopic and dynamical investigations of spontaneous and nonlinear laser Raman scattering by monomeric and aggregated molecules on metallic, semiconductor, vesicles surfaces and encapsulated within mesoporous materials; (4) excited state dynamics and determination of photophysical parameters for cyanine dyes and donor-acceptor systems that involve electron-transfer reactions; (5) Raman investigations of porphyrins in solution or adsorbed onto surfaces; (6) spectroscopic studies of biological tissues and herbs; and (7) quantum chemical calculations of porphyrins and dye molecules.

Recent Local/National/International Committees and Boards:

Advisory Board for the 2012 Emerging Researchers National ((ERN) Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Education and Human Resources Program

Invited by The National Academies (Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences) NRC Committee to Review 2008 Engineering Research and Commercialization Proposal of the Ohio Third Frontier Program,. The NAS Building, Washington, DC, April 23-24, 2008.

Invited Member of the Science Foundation of Arizona's (SFAz's) Proposal Review Committee. May 9 Ã¢€“ May 12, 2007, Phoenix, Arizona.

Invited Member of The Council for Chemical Research (27th Annual Meeting: "Shaping the Future of Chemical Sciences & Engineering"). April 30 Ã¢€“ May 3, 2006, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson, Arizona.

The National Academy of Sciences, member of the Committee to Review Physical Sciences Proposals to the 2005 Wright Centers of Innovation Competition of the State of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio. Meeting Location: 31st Floor, Riffe Center; Meeting Date: February 9 and 10, 2005.

Invited Member of the Pre-Conference on Designing Nanostructures. Convened Under the National Academies Keck Futures Initiative (NAKFI) on Designing NanostructuresÃ¢€“September 18-19, 2004.

NSF-European Commission Workshop in Leuven Belgium: Participated in the development of a cooperative research program involving US & European scientists & engineers that aims at expanding materials limits with the purpose of contributing to the development of future technologies, 12/10/96-12/15/96.

Development of Hydrogen/Halogen Fuel Cell Technology for Renewables Based Energy Storage” (“Prime Agreement”) from The National Science Foundation (“Prime Sponsor”). This Agreement is made under Grant Number IIP-0848366 SBIR Phase II; amendment No 002.

DoD/ARO

7/01/06

$200,000

FY 2005 Instrumentation and Research Support for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)